SEWERAGE CONNECTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4639, 17 December 1923, Page 2

SEWERAGE CONNECTION

PROTEST AGAINST COST. LETTER TO COUNCIL. 1 At the meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council, on Thursday last, the fallowing letter was read from a resident in Corbett Street: —“Your demand that I should at once take steps I o link up with the sewerage drain is not possible at present thraugn lack of funds and I am by no means the only impecunious ratepayer. It was naturally supposed, that in adding to our burdens by. the recent loan, we should get some benefit from it, and that our city fathers wc:ild follow the example of other boroughs and finance the necessary work, allowing us to pay off by rate. Completing the sanitary arrangements is more urgent than another big outlay in the main street, as it is m fair condition already for motorists. One /is a necessity and the other a luxury. When our votes were asked for the sewerage, it was .stated that the cost of connection Would, not exced £l2. Then why allow one man to have sole control both of Thames and Paeroa when you- might easily induce other plumbers and drninlayers to come and compete, thus reducing the exorbitant charges? Messrs Bright and Rusden were prepared to complete the work for a far lower estimate, but your late mayor refused -to give his sanction. It is up to you to see fair play for the ratepayers instead of harassing them and continuing the daylight robbery going on, as neither materials or the labour awards warrant such prices. Trusting that our esteemed mayor will rise to the occasion.”

The mayor said. that the letter could be referred to as bne of the bright passages in an otherwise sombre meeting. It was impossible for the to pay for the cost of installation without a special loan being sanctioned by the ratepayers. The council was prepared to consider the position of the ratepayers who were unable to meet the .cost of installation. It was nec&ssary for people to connect up, and if they were unable to do so the council should at once he advised. The compulsion for connecting up was made by the Public Health Department, and the council was bound to .see its wishes canned out. - After a great deal of discussion ?t was decided that the matter he deferred until the January meeting.